Ian Radbone, BISA committee's Discussions

I've been using the cycling layer of Google Maps when cycling to an area I don't know. I liked the way it seem to crowd-source information to come up with networks.But it has some weird ideas,…Continue

"I prefer Google Maps, as the routing is more reliable than the strange routing engine on Cycle Instead. Both sites use the same original dataset, but Google has a better routing engine.
That is 100% the state government's fault, they were the…"

"You use Open Street Map?
What I liked about Google Maps originally was the crowd-sourcing, but it seems that has been removed. And your experience pointed to the difficulty of getting Cycle Instead changed - though at least you have…"

"I prefer CycleInstead, Google Maps often suggests strange/dangerous routes.
It took me three emails to CycleInstead over many months for them to remove the "bikelane" marking for The Grove Way (along Cobbler Creek). There is a narrow…"

"I use MapMyRide, loosely based on google maps, but more user friendly. It also allows point-to-point input of segments (not following predetermined routing) which can be used to "bypass" known mapping errors. Allows…"

"Google maps is by far the superior tool, but Cycle Instead has much more accurate maps. Google took a large step backwards when MapMaker was withdrawn from Australia a few years ago. Thousands of community edits were reverted, and a…"

"I use Google maps over Cycle instead generally. Google appears to be more up to date and generally gives you more realistic routes. Cycle instead very often gives me really strange routes.
I agree about Main North road being "cycle…"

"I appear to be wrong about dragging the route with Cycle Instead (don't use it much) but it certainly works with Google Maps. Mind you I'm still better off with the Topo map on my Garmin Etrex, I can make up the route as I go along…"

"I use both on occasion. However I only treat then as suggestions, always looking for quiet side roads. Both platforms allow you drag and drop the route via another path so you can customise your route quite easily."

I've been using the cycling layer of Google Maps when cycling to an area I don't know. I liked the way it seem to crowd-source information to come up with networks.But it has some weird ideas, having Main North Road just above the City as a "bike friendly street". Does anyone have any opinions on which sources to use? How is Cycle Instead? See More

Ian Radbone, BISA committee's Photos

Ian Radbone, BISA committee's Blog

I just dropped in to Kevin Clark's bike shop on Magill Road and saw this weird bike with two sets of nylon cords instead of gears. If you look closely at the photo you will see lots of notches. There are nineteen, for the nineteen gears, all in a single ratio.

It's also got hydraulic rim brakes, which I'd never seen before.

It's a sort of a step-through commuter bike with lockable front shocks, good for hopping kerbs.

I had a long conversation with Kelly Henderson on the weekend. A former President of the Parklands Preservation Society, Kelly is known as taking a fairly uncompromising stand on protecting the Park Lands. We probably need such people, to balance those who just see it as unexploited real estate.

But Kelly wanted to talk to me about cycling. She thinks the Frome Bikeway has created a backlash and has made life more frustrating for motorists, e.g. the right turn bans have made life…